GD Underground

GD Underground

GDU (for short) is working and striving to bring you the latest news in game and RPG making software. We work with developers to bring you the latest news on existing software or new ones to the market. GDU was originally going to be VGS (video game software) Archive, but with cooperation from a few members and Indie Game Companies we decided that our name needed to have more of an appeal as it rolled off someone's tongue. The other purpose of GDU was to give people a place to come and find game/RPG making software and by reading Reviews from GDU Staff, GDU Members, and selected Indie Game people to allow you to see if the software will be worth your money or time downloading. GDU Managers are also working with a few Indie Game Designers to bring exclusive game kits (containing graphics and media) as well as graphic kits to GDU site (underdevelopment). These kits when released will be free of charge and contain everything you need to make a specific type of game in a specific type of software. Once GDU has been up and running for awhile you will also be able to request some kits (free or paid).

In A Nut Shell

So how does GDU differ from other sites like us? Well to be honest as of now we are not so different as most of our features or plans will take time to implement so comparing our site to others would simply be an insult to those sites for the lack of features we have planned, but do not have at this moment. So in a nut shell I don't feel the need to compare a new site/community to existing ones as it would just be an insult.

Our Goal

Like most new communities and sites we have an overall goal and a dream, but in this age of competitiveness that we live in words are only as good as the person can make them. So my goal for GDU is not to become the best and number one site to find game/RPG making resources or support, but to give people a place where they can find the latest news and information on new and existing software. A place to fins a compiled list of just about every type of game/RPG making software out there. This is my goal for GDU and this idea was derived from the MMO Hub (which reviews and rates free MMO's).

Review Team

GDU is also looking for people to join our review team. This is a non-paying job, but GDU will buy the required software for the review team to use if need be. Of course we prefer people with a steady income as GDU is not rich and can't afford to buy every Review Member new software to review. If your interested please join our community (link below); max 5 people only.

Review System

Because our main site is Underdevelopment for now our reviews are displayed on our forum, but we plan on implementing this into our site/forum itself ultimately replacing the forums in due time. I apologize for this inconvenience.

Current Contest

GDU is holding a map contest in which place the winners receive:

1st --- $100
2nd --- $50
3rd --- $25

Your maps will be judged by Indie Game Designers and Developers; you must be a member to participate.

Closing

Well I could go over other features we plan on adding, but why give your hopes up for features we do not have at this time. I only hope you will give GDU a chance and see just how much of our goal we actually end up doing.

Links

http://www.gdunderground.com (under construction; sorry for the inconvenience).
http://community.gdunderground.com (up and running)

Respectfully,
Mad Klown (Kage Kazumi)

Wow, $100 contest for mapping. That's pretty cool. I'm don't make maps anymore and I was never any good, but for that I might make an exception.

Wow, $100 contest for mapping. That's pretty cool. I'm don't make maps anymore and I was never any good, but for that I might make an exception.

Well to be honest it took awhile to get Indie Game Designers and Developers to be a judge, but I managed to do it and it required no money on my part. I'm not sure what the next contest will be, but I know the prize for our next contest is planned to be a subscription to Game Developer Magazine. But for our first one we decided to go for simple prize.

I've signed up on this forum, and I may very well join in on this contest. Need to clarify some rules first.

I've signed up on this forum, and I may very well join in on this contest. Need to clarify some rules first.

Feel free to ask here or in the Feedback forum at GDU Community.

Posted it over there, increase to postcount and activity.

Posted it over there, increase to postcount and activity.

Thank you. Below is his question and my answer for those who wish to know:

Hey there, had a few questions on the contest before we get started.

Will things such as parallax mapping (using photoshop to layout and tweak default tilesets) or map elements which require scripts (such as fixing pictures to map x, y)?

I mostly in this way, some examples:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v648/joymason/rpgmaker/Guilds/NewGreyBriarCR.png
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v648/joymason/rpgmaker/Guilds/YarMaps-03.png
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v648/joymason/rpgmaker/Guilds/MapPractice.png


Just wanted to clarify before I get started on the contest.

(also, unsure how this forum feels on having several direct images in a post, so I just posted the links)

As long as you use the default tilesets for the program you are using (i.e. RPG Maker VX) you can tweak or edit them to your desire.

That kinda sounds weird how you can "tweak or edit them to your desire" as long as you use the default tilesets... If you tweak/edit them, they're no longer the default tilesets, lol. Confusing.

On another note, I thought the first post was good. Besides the money prize, I was more captured by the format and layout of the post and as if you actually wanted people to come (instead of a lot of other posts that we usually see in this section >_> )

EDIT: I see the rules explicitly state that P: I might try this 8D

Hey there! I am the second-in-charge of GDU! We would really appreciate it if a lot of people joined us to get as much support as possible! Thanks!

~~Eco~~

That kinda sounds weird how you can "tweak or edit them to your desire" as long as you use the default tilesets... If you tweak/edit them, they're no longer the default tilesets, lol. Confusing.

On another note, I thought the first post was good. Besides the money prize, I was more captured by the format and layout of the post and as if you actually wanted people to come (instead of a lot of other posts that we usually see in this section >_> )

EDIT: I see the rules explicitly state that P: I might try this 8D

Tweak --- If using something like RPG Maker XP you can combine the sets into one.
Edit --- Recolors

UPDATE

Our new domain name is now working, say good bye to the old one. And thanks to those who have joined already.

GDU Community Updates

1) Chat has been upgraded.
2) Gallery added
3) News system added.
4) News Forums removed.
5) Navigation Altered
6) Active Staff Online removed due to glitches.
7) Shoutbox relocated
8} New Design

Read more...

I don't mean it in a bad way, more as an observation, but one thing I can say after being at RMRK for 5 years is that these kinds of things almost always universally fail.

This is 2010. You can't take a Dubai style attitude with a new site of "build it, and they will come". Maybe 5+ years ago perhaps, but not now. I firmly believe that if RMRK didn't exist and it were to be created now, it would fail/die from inactivity or nobody caring.

Some symptoms of such sites are being eager to have as many "features" in the hopes of getting traffic. Adding blogs, galleries, shoutboxes, arcades, even trash like calendars and clocks. Also things like contests which I notice you've done. It's been done many times before. None of those sites exist any more.

I wouldn't start community site without significant demand for it.

I don't mean it in a bad way, more as an observation, but one thing I can say after being at RMRK for 5 years is that these kinds of things almost always universally fail.

This is 2010. You can't take a Dubai style attitude with a new site of "build it, and they will come". Maybe 5+ years ago perhaps, but not now. I firmly believe that if RMRK didn't exist and it were to be created now, it would fail/die from inactivity or nobody caring.

Some symptoms of such sites are being eager to have as many "features" in the hopes of getting traffic. Adding blogs, galleries, shoutboxes, arcades, even trash like calendars and clocks. Also things like contests which I notice you've done. It's been done many times before. None of those sites exist any more.

I wouldn't start community site without significant demand for it.

NOTE: May refer to social network, just ignore. It was an idea.

KEY: Colored text are quotes from Roph from above.

"I don't mean it in a bad way, more as an observation, but one thing I can say after being at RMRK for 5 years is that these kinds of things almost always universally fail."

And I have been making websites for 15 years some for just simple pleasure and some to generate a revenue. I have attempted many ideas when it comes to website and community building and have seen my share of ideas fail for this reason or another. I have also seen my ideas take off to create a thriving and working community. When I was 20 I went through a phase of trying to make a RPG Maker XP community/site and it failed due to my inactivity and overall uninterested attitude in the whole thing. I mean when I got down to it I gave up because "who wants another RMXP site?"  Plus I have done my home work for this project. Even without the whole social network it would a site first of its kind, which many think is a good idea; not because it would be the first of its kind, but because of the main purpose behind it.

"This is 2010. You can't take a Dubai style attitude with a new site of "build it, and they will come". Maybe 5+ years ago perhaps, but not now. I firmly believe that if RMRK didn't exist and it were to be created now, it would fail/die from inactivity or nobody caring."

And what crazy person would even imagine such a crazy thought; build it and they will come? In the business of website (profit or non-profit) your site will go no where with out advertising. Posting topics on places like this is just a warm up. Any person would know you can't expect a "build it and they will come" attitude else wise like the people before them they will fail for one reason or another. Now as for your theory on if RMRK where created today I could agree with you on this simply because I have seen MANY RMXP/VX geared sites die or even change (rmxp.net/org). No site or community is built over night, no matter how cool I or anyone else thinks the overall idea is or will be. Plus as I was told by the owner of GameProducer.net and the other indie game developers their, " a site with your concept could be very successful, even today. But will you just do the same old mundane advertising or take it serious and invest money into it. After all GameProducer took time to catch on, but my unrelenting determination got it where it is today." But me coming into this (regardless of how my topics appear) and my thinking are far from, "build it and they will come." This is the modern age so such talk can only ruin a business or site.

"Some symptoms of such sites are being eager to have as many "features" in the hopes of getting traffic. Adding blogs, galleries, shoutboxes, arcades, even trash like calendars and clocks. Also things like contests which I notice you've done. It's been done many times before. None of those sites exist any more."

Well I can tell you that I own a few IPB licenses and at one time had plans to use them for other sites (7 years ago; renewing my license for what ever reason). But when I added them it was not thinking along the lines of, "more features and they will come" attitude. The shoutbox was there until the chat room was installed, I don't have an arcade, I added the blogs because some people use them; but not me, and the gallery would have replaced the same old mundane resource forum. Anything I added I added with a purpose behind it that would have been essential to GDU or it's members. As for the contest I have not seen to many advertising topics where people have did this and I will admit it was a hope to get new members (active), but I knew it would not be rolling in the masses or that they would even stay active. Truth be told people are more prone to join something and be apart of it if it is already active and thriving. The site is missing content and the forum and site design where different this would turn even me away. But like I said before I have been doing this for 15 years and even ran a website design business successfully for 5 years before I got board with it.

"I wouldn't start community site without significant demand for it."

You have to learn how to crawl before you can walk and walk before you can run buddy. This same concept can apply to making a website and community. Plus that statement is ignorant thinking regardless of how many sites you have seen fail. The reality of it is they failed because of the PERSON not the IDEA itself. I don't plan on it becoming the next big thing, or even dreamed it would have. After all dreams get you know where, planning, dedication, and work do. So if it fails it would not mean that the IDEA failed just the PERSON who tried to act on it and failed for more than likely not taking it serious or loosing interest.